Module handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for unloading articles from storage for performing operating processes on them and thereafter loading the articles for storage into categories determined by the processes. The articles are stored in stacked trays and automatically moved to a station for unloading to a processing station such as an article tester. After testing, the articles are sorted based on the test results and again automatically moved to stations for loading into stacked trays.

United States Patent Fineran [451 May 16,1972

MODULE HANDLING APPARATUS William J. Fineran, Wappingers Falls, NY.

Inventor:

[73] Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY.

Jan. 29, 1971 Filed:

Appl. No.:

US. Cl. ..209/73, 209/74, 209/81 R, 221/91, 53/35, 53/244, 214/301 Int. Cl. ..B07c 3/12 Field of Search ..209/73, 74, 81; 214/300, 301, 214/307; 221/103, 104, 91; 53/35, 244

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1918 Sheppard ..221/91UX l/1959 Vossen ..221/l03X 2,970,709 2/ 1961 Gartner et a1 ..2l4/301 3,197,694 8/1965 Gamey et a1, ..214/307 3,286,740 11/1966 Fuchs, Jr. et al ..2l4/30l X 3,366,235 1/1968 Boyd et a1. ....209/81 R 3,540,180 11/1970 Deuell et a1 ..53/59 R 3,557,976 1/1971 lsobe ..2l4/301 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney-l-lanifin & .lancin and John F. Osterndorf [57] ABSTRACT Method and apparatus for unloading articles from storage for performing operating processes on them and thereafter loading the articles for storage into categories determined by the processes. The articles are stored in stacked trays and automatically moved to a station for unloading to a processing station such as an article tester. After testing, the articles are sorted based on the test results and again automatically moved to stations for loading into stacked trays.

18 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 001111011 DRIVE PATENTEDMAY 16 m2 3.662.881

SHEET 1 OF 6 Is I) n UNLOADER UNLOADER 15 ,1 TURNTABLE INDEXER INDEXER TURNTABLE 3g 52 LOADER LOADER common 12\ DRIVE INVENTOR WILLIAM J FINERAN FIZZ BY X W ATTORNEY PATENTED MAY 16 I972 SHEET 2 UF 6 FIG.3

UUUFG (iii am.

PATENTEDHAY IBIQTZ FIG.6

76b 76c Fa FIG. 9

PATENTEDMM 16 I972 3,662,881

sum 6 (1F 6 FIG. 10

EACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to article handling apparatus and, more particularly, to the loading and unloading mechanisms employed with semiconductor module handling apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art As the complexity of integrated circuit devices has increased, hundreds of individual circuits have been contained within a single semiconductor package, and the task of testing such a circuit package has similarly become more complex. Testing equipment and systems have advanced from the testing of discreteparameters on individual components to the performance of static and dynamic tests on integrated packages using functional testers and complex and often computer-controlled testing systems.

Involved in the evolution of the test equipment and systems has been the enhancement of the operating speeds of the test equipment as substantially more tests had to be performed on more complex circuit packages in shorter periods of time. Considerably more of the test operation has been automated. As a part of this automation, significant advances have occurred in the area of the handling apparatus. Development of handling apparatus has progressed from the manual handling of the articles for test to almost the complete automation of the entire handling process. In this way, substantial increases have occurred in the speed of the testing operation.

In the handling of semiconductor circuit modules, it has been past practice to store the individual modules in multichannel trays. The trays are moved in side to side relationship along a conveyor system to a testing facility. At this facility,

the modules have been moved one by one to the testing station and as each channel of a tray has been emptied, the conveyor has been indexed to the next channel with each tray moving in this manner. Such apparatus requires almost the continuous presence of an operator to load and unload trays on the conveyor system. Moreover, the time required for moving the modules to be tested is much greater than the testing capability of the apparatus itself. In addition, the handling apparatus requires almost the continuous movement of' the trays, lacks any provision for alignment and registration of the trays or the modules as they are unloaded and does not have any provision for storage of trays, either loaded or unloaded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As contrasted with the prior art, this invention provides handling apparatus for further increasing the speed of handling the semiconductor circuit packages in unloading and loading them for a test operation or other operation requiring the handling and movement of the packages from one location to another during a particular processing operation.

In one specific application, this handling apparatus is employed with a test system in which the circuit modules are cycled through test procedures. According to the results of the tests, the modules are sorted and then stored in multi-channel trays. The invention is concerned with the storing and stacking of the trays and their movement to an unload station and. also at plural load stations after sorting according to the tests. Substantially greater density of tray storage is achieved obviating the need for continuous operator monitoring of the apparatus.

The trays are positioned in contiguous back to front relationship with one tray at a time being moved to an unload station. At that station, the tray remains stationary and a shuttle bar assembly having flexible guide means sequentially unloads the modules from the channels of the tray for gravity feed to the test facility. When the tray is emptied, it is level shifted out of the unloading station to accommodate a new tray for unloading.

After testing of the modules and sorting according to the results of the tests, the modules are transported along independent paths to load stations for each of the sort categories. Trays are positioned in back to front contiguous relationship at each of these load stations. Using shuttle bar assemblies having flexible guide means at each load station, the channels of the trays are sequentially loaded with the modules provided at those stations and while the trays are in a fixed position. After a tray is fully loaded, it is level shifted out of the load station to permit a new tray to load the articles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram in block form of dual module handling apparatus employing the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the testing turntable of FIG. 1 indicating the various stations encountered during the testing operation;

FIG. 3 is a plan view partially in section of the unloading apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the unloading apparatus of FIG. 3 indicating the unloading and tray displacing mechanisms;

FIG. 5 is a side view partially in section of a tray positioned in the unload station;

FIG. 6 is a plan view partially in section of the loading apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of trays at the load station and taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view partially in section of the tray aligner of the loading apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the unload mechanism of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a tray employed in the apparatus of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, the unloading and loading apparatus of the invention is employed in a dual module handler for testing semiconductor modules. In the handler, modules are unloaded from trays, passed through a test cycle and reloaded into categorized trays dependent on the test results. The dual module handler may operate under computer control in performing the various handling operations as well as collecting and analyzing the test results and determining the acceptance or rejection of a particular module.

The handler is divided into two halves l0, l1 and except for a common drive 12, the halves 10, 11 are otherwise independent of each other. Each half of the handler includes a tumtable 13, 14 connected through an indexer 15, 16 to common drive 12. Unloading apparatus 17, 18 delivers modules through paths 30, 31 to turntables 13, 14 for testing and, dependent on the test results, provides them through paths 32, 33 to loading apparatus 19, 20.

Common drive 12 includes a shaft-clutch/brake-cam mechanism responsive through a T-drive to a motor to rotate turntables 13, 14 through indexers l5, 16. The speed of the drive motor is variable and therefore so is the speed at which turntables 13, 14 rotate. The rate at which modules are delivered. to the turntables depends on the length of the test cycle for the particular module. The operation of the dual module handler is such that each half has its own set of test cans with the turntables operating in synchronism so that through the interlocking set of brakes and clutches one of the turntables is decoupled while the other is in an operating mode.

As shown in FIG. 2, turntable 13 in module handling portion 11 is driven in a clockwise direction. In a similar manner, turntable 14. is driven in a counter-clockwise direction. Modules from unloading apparatus 17 are guided to turntable 13 at a load station 21. The load station is one of the eight stations positioned at 45 intervals around the turntable. Modules are delivered to nests 22 provided around the periphery of turntable 13. After a module is loaded in a nest 22 of the turntable at load station 21'; indexing of the turntable is provided to the second station 23 which straightens the pins of the module and also aligns them for the testing operation. The

next station is a device presence sensor 24 which senses the presence or absence of a module in a nest 22 of the turntable. A signalis provided at station 24 which operates to control whether testing will be performed at the following test stations 25, 26. As indicated in FIG. 2, stations 25, 26 may be employed to perform DC and AC tests; respectively.

Following the testing, the turntable is indexed to sort stations 27, 28, 29. Dependent on the results of the tests, sorting is performed into one of the three categories which maybe accept, indeterminate and reject. Each of the sort stations 27-29 from turntables l3, 14 is coupled through its own path (included in common paths 32, 33) to a loader in the loading apparatus 19, 20.

In one implementation of the invention, paths 30, 31 from unloaders 17 and 18 may provide a gravity feed to the corresponding turntables. Paths 32, 33 from turntables 13 and 14 to loading apparatus 19 and 20, respectively, may be air-bearing slides for transporting the modules to the respective tray loaders.

The module handling system and testing turntable described above are illustrative of the type of apparatus that could employ the unloading and loading arrangements of the invention. The balance of this specification is directed to the description of the loading and unloading arrangements. It is to be understood, however, that the unloading and loading arrangements may also be employed with other types of apparatus which act on semiconductor modules.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the unloading apparatus generally indicated at 40 is supported by end castings 41, 42 providing a gap 35 between a module transfer or home position 43 of apparatus 40 and turntable 14. A housing 44 for the handler is provided below turntable 14. A control panel may be positioned to the side of turntable 14 adjacent to one of the supports 41,42. f

Unloading apparatus 40 is bilevel having a lower level 36 which includes home position 43 and an upper level 37. The unloading operation takes place in the direction of arrow 38 by moving trays sequentially along lower level 36 to home position 43 for the actual unloading and then shifting the empty trays to upper level 37'.

In unloading apparatus 40, a plurality of trays 45a-45c loaded with modules are-positioned on lower level 36 in back to front contiguous relationship on a ball track slide arrangement 46 for movement to home position 43 under-a constant force-exerted by pressureexerting member 47. Member 47 rides on support rail 60 and is provided with a suitable locking control level 48. When in the down position, lever 48 is disengaged permitting the force to be exerted on the trays. When in the vertical position shown by the dashed lines, lever 48 engages a pawl, is prevented from exerting such pressure and is locked in a fixed position. v

The modules loaded in trays 45a-45c are to conveyed to turntable 14 for testing purposes. The modules are unloaded from the trays when a tray is positioned in home position 43 on lower level 36. After unloading of a tray, the empty tray is lifted upwardly, as willbe described more fully hereinafter, and directed along upper level 37 to a storage portion of the unloading apparatus 40. Upperlevel 37 stores trays 49a-49c which ride on ball track 50 and have a constant force exerted on them by pressure exerting member 51. Member 51 is carried on support rail 61. As with member 47, a locking element 52 is provided for member 51. When in the down position, lever 52 is disengaged permitting the force to be exerted on the trays. When in the upper position, as shown by the dashed lines, lever 52 engages a pawl, is locked in position and prevented from exerting such force. In one implementation of the unloading apparatus, the force exerted by member 47 on trays 45a-45c may approximate twelve pounds whereas the force exerted by member 51 on trays 49a-49 c is substantially less, approximating four pounds. Members 47 and 51 also carry governors 62 to control the speed of movement of members 47 and 51 when levers 48 and 52 are disengaged.

Considering the unloading operation for a tray, reference is made to the views of FIGS. 4 and 5. A tray is moved into home position 43. An air cylinder 53 is actuated causing pistons 53a to be moved out releasing spring elements 54 carried in each channel of a tray. The modules contained in the channels are permitted to rest on a stop 55 of a shuttle bar assembly56. In the unloading apparatus, shuttle bar assembly 56 is positioned at the bottom of a tray. The shuttle bar is provided with a gap 57 through which the modules are conveyed from one channel at a time by means of a guide spring 58. The modules are gravity fed along spring 58 down to load station 21 of tumtable 14 for positioning in a nest 22. Guide spring 58 is a flexible element fixed at one end in the slot 57 of shuttle bar assembly As shown in FIG. 5,. the pins of modules 59 straddle guide spring 58 as they are conveyed down the guide spring. In unloading the modules from a tray, shuttle bar assembly 56 always begins the unload operation from the channel at one end or the other of the tray and aseach channelis unloaded, assembly 56 indexes one channel over to permit the unloading of this next channel through slot 57. A photocell arrangement (not shown) is positioned below the shuttle bar to detect when a channel is completely unloaded causing a motor (not shown) driving the shuttle bar to index it to the next channel. The shuttle bar 56 is therefore bi-directional. As shown in FIG. 5, if it moves from right to left in emptying a first tray, it emptys a second tray moving left to right. The assembly cannot begin its unload operation unless it is positioned in one of the extreme end positions with respect to the channels of a tray.

The photocell arrangement below the shuttle bar assembly 56 also determines when a tray should be shifted from lower level 36 to the store position on upper level 37 after it is completely unloaded. An air cylinder 65 carries a sliding block 66 which is pinned at 67 to a lever arm 68. At the end of lever arm 68 is a lift finger 69 for a tray. Air cylinder 65 is drawn upward in response to a signal from the photocell arrangement. Because of the spring loading at 70 of lever arm 68, the lever arm is pushed outwardly at shoulder 72 drawing the tray to upper level 37 of unloading apparatus 40. As the tray is drawn upwardly, it rides up through slot 71. When'fully drawn up to the upper level, the tray is moved out on the roller surfaces 50 for storage. Under the force exerted by member 47, another tray is moved into home position 43 and is then unloaded in the same manner. When unloaded, it is then moved from home position 43 to the upper level of apparatus 40. Sliding block 66 carrys an actuator 63 which trips a sensor as a tray moves from home position 43 to upper level 37.

As already stated, the modules are conveyed by flexible spring guide member 58 through gap 57 in shuttle bar assembly 56 with one channel of a tray being unloaded at a time in a gravity feed process. The modules are conveyed to testing turntable 14. Guide spring 58 is fixed in gap 57 of shuttle bar assembly 56 and rides in a slot at its opposite end in order to provide for variations in its length as assembly 56 indexes from channel to channel. During the unloading of a tray, the tray is fixed in home position 43. Only shuttle bar assembly 56 and guide spring 58 are indexed from channel to channel.

The modules move through the turntable cycle, are tested and then sorted at the sort stations 27-29 according to their accept, indeterminate or reject status. Air bearing slides (shown in common at 32, 33 in FIG. 1), coact with each of the sort stations 27-29 to accept the modules ejected to them and to convey them to discrete load stations for each son category. As the modules are conveyed by the air bearing slides, they are positioned with the pins facing upward and the body of the module acted on by the air bearing.

A loading apparatus 75, as shown in FIG. 6, is positioned at the end of each of the air bearing slides. Loading apparatus 75 is similar to the unloading apparatus 40. It is bilevel in that fully loaded trays 76a-76c are at a lower level 77 and empty trays 78a-78c are at an upper level 79. The loading operation takes place as the trays move in the direction of arrow 74.

Force exerting members 80, 81 carried by support arms 82, 83, respectively, apply pressure against the loaded and unloaded trays. EAch of the force exerting members 80, 81 carries a trip lever 84, 85 permitting the force to be exerted against the trays when the lever is in the down position but locking it when in the up position, preventing the force from being exerted. As with the unloading apparatus 40, the pressure exerted by member 81 approximates 12 pounds whereas the force exerted by member 80 at the accepting end of the apparatus 75 approximates four pounds. The trays 78a-78c which are empty are moved in a right to left direction to the last position at upper level 79. Thus, tray 76d is in home or load position 73. During the loading operation of a tray, the tray is fixed. The modules, as will be discussed more fully hereinafter, are loaded into the channels in sequential manner.

Modules provided along an air bearing slide are directed into the loading apparatus through an input track elbow 86. From elbow 86, they are provided into a twister 87 which orients the module so that the pins face in the direction of force exerting member 80 for acceptance into the channels of tray 76d. In twisting, the module is rotated 90. From the air bearing slide into input track elbow 86, there is a gravity drop. From twister 87 the modules are fed through track 88 containing within it a spring guide element 89. The details of this arrangement are shown more particularly in FIG. 7. Spring guide element 89 acts in the same manner as the spring guide element 58 of FIG. 5 in accepting the modules within input track 88 and guiding them using the pins of the modules to a shuttle bar assembly 90.

Shuttle bar assembly 90 is the same type as that employed with the unloading apparatus. The details of assembly 90 are shown in FIG. 9. Assembly 90 indexes from channel to channel permitting the channels of tray 76d to be loaded with the modules. To perform the loading operation, shuttle bar assembly 90 must begin in one of the extreme end positions. An air sensor (not shown) indicates when a tray is present on a pivotable platform 91 with a respective plunger 91a extended into a tray channel. The tray is then ready to accept modules. One of the plungers 91a is provided for engaging each of the channels of a tray. In response to the sensing of the presence of a tray, an air cylinder arrangement is activated causing an aligning and channel release mechanism 92 to be activated. Shuttle bar assembly 90 has a single gap through which modules fall into only one channel at a time as guided by spring guide element 89. Spring guide element 89 is fixed in the shuttle bar but floats at its opposite end to accommodate any change in length as assembly 90 is indexed from channel to channel.

To assure that a tray is properly aligned before modules are permitted to fall into the channels, an aligning and channel release mechanism 92 is provided as shown in FIG. 8. Mechanism 92 is carried by assembly 90, so that each time assembly 90 is indexed for loading a new channel mechanism 92 moves with it. When a tray is held in home position 73 for the loading mode, an actuator bar 100 is motivated by a force supplied by an air cylinder arrangement. Bar 100 pivots about a point 101 causing pawl 102 to pivot about point 103. An aligner portion 104 of the pawl then drops in channel 105 of the tray. This results in a positive positioning of the tray. At the same time that pawl 102 is in motion, actuator bar 100 engages link element 106 so that it pivots at point 107 allowing a finger tip 108 carried by it to depress spring element 109 in channel 105 of the tray. As is shown, the spring element 109 is moved permitting modules 110 to flow down into channel 105 from shuttle bar assembly 90. As shown in FIG. 9, each of the channels of tray 76d carries such a spring element 109. Each time that a tray is to be loaded, a channel plunger 91a is extended into a channel and aligning of the channel and release of spring element 109 occurs to permit the modules to fall into the channel.

A photoelectric sensor (not shown) is formed in assembly 90 to sense the number of modules that flow down into the channel of a tray until a given number N are loaded. The NH module is retained in the shuttle bar assembly and the force is removed from actuator bar so that it returns to its original position as shown at 111, allowing aligner 104 and link element 106 to be withdrawn from the channel of the tray. Then, the entire shuttle bar assembly 90 indexes to the next channel and the operation is repeated. Shuttle bar assembly 90 may be moved by a linear geneva or optional driver so as to move horizontally to the next channel for repeating the loading cycle.

When the entire tray is filled, platform 91 pivots in the direction of member 81 and sliding bar assembly 112 including hinged link 113 with pull-down finger 114 acts to pull the loaded tray to lower level 77 for storage with the other trays 76a-76 that are filled with modules. The modules in the channels are retained by spring elements at the lower end of each channel.

Shuttle bar assembly 90 is shown more particularly in FIG. 9 as feeding modules into a tray 76d. The first three channels of tray 76d have been filled with modules. The last two channels at the right are empty of modules. Shuttle bar assembly 90 moves in the direction of arrow 93.

Assembly 90 includes a chute portion 94 carrying within it spring guide element 89. Modules M1-M3 are guided along spring guide 89 within chute 94. When the N module is locked within a channel, such as the module M4, the NH module is retained within chute 94 of the shuttle bar assembly 90. This module is indicated at MS. To retain module M5 within the shuttle bar, there is provided a module stop and release device 95. Device 95 positively stops the N+l module and holds it in position while it is subject to the impact force of falling modules Ml-M3 feeding into chute 94, and while assembly 90 is indexed to the next empty channel of tray 76d.

Device 95 is positioned above the minimum height of a column of N modules. A portion of chute 94 is replaced with a spring force activated platen 96. The spring is shown at 97. Upon sensing the N module in a column, spring 97 is released pushing the N+1 module against platen 96 effecting a side motion displacement of the N+l module. Fixed stop 98 is provided at the other side of chute 94. Release from fixed stop 98 is effected when spring 97 is retracted allowing platen 96 to be retracted to its normal position. Platen 96 now acts as a guide along with chute 94 permitting modules Ml-M4 to pass the stop and flow into the next channel of a tray until the N module is sensed in the next channel. When the last of the channels of tray 76d has been filled with modules, the tray is dropped to the lower level 77, as shown in FIG. 6, using sliding bar assembly 112.

As shown in FIG. 10, the trays employed in the apparatus of this invention have a front side indicated at115 and a rear side 116. A typical tray is provided with five channels 117-121. Each of the channels has a bar guide 122 placed in the center of it to permit a module M to be carried with its pin facing inwardly and straddling guide 122. When completely loaded, a tray of this type is capable of storing a plurality of modules in each channel. Channel guide 122 of each channel of a tray also coacts with a locking element 99 at the lower end of assembly 90 to assure that the modules fall from chute 94 into the channel of the tray.

While this invention has been particularly described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Article handling apparatus for sequentially providing articles to a processing station, comprising a plurality of multi-channel article holding means, each of said channels having the capacity for retaining a plurality of said articles,

means for storing a plurality of said holding means loaded with said articles and feeding said loaded holding means one by one to an unloading station, said holding means being positioned in back to front contiguous relationship when being stored,

unloading means at said location responsive to the presence of a loaded holding means at said location for effecting while said holding means is fixed at said location the channel by channel unloading of said articles and the transporting of said articles to said processing station, means for moving each holding means out of said location after it is unloaded, and means for accepting said moved unloaded holding means 1 for storage. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is bilevel having a lower level for storing said loaded holding means and an upper levelfor storing said unloaded holding means, and said unloading location being on said lower level, so that said moving means level shifts each holding means out of said unloading location after it is unloaded.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said unloading means comprises a bar assembly movable transversely at one end a holding means at said unloading location, said assembly blocking the passage of said articles from all but one of the channels of a holding means at a time and having a gap through it'co'mmunicating with said one channel permitting said articles when released from said holding means to be transported to said processing station.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein flexible guide means fixed at one end in said assembly and communicating with said processing station at the other end transport said articles to said processing station.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the channels of said holding means includes spring means for retaining said articles within said holding means, and said unloading means includes means for engaging said spring means when said holding means is in said location to release said articles for unloadmg.

6. Article handling apparatus for sequentially loading articles categorized at a processing station according to the process and provided along discrete paths corresponding to the categories to article loading apparatus at the end of each such path, each of said loading apparatus comprising a plurality of multi-channel articleholding means, each of said channels having the capacity for retaining a plurality of said articles, means for storing a plurality of said holding means empty of said articles and feeding said holding means one by one to a loading location at the end of a path, said holding means being positionedin backto front contiguous relationship when being stored,

loading means at said location responsive to the presence of an empty holding means fed to said location for. effecting while said holding means is fixed at said location the channel by channel loading of a predetermined number of said articles into the holding means,

means for moving each holding means out of said location after it is loaded, and

means for accepting said moved loaded holding means for storage.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the loading apparatus at the end of each path is bilevel having a lower level for storing said unloaded holding means and an upper level for storing said loaded holding means, and said loading location being on said lower level, so that said moving means level shifts each holding means out of said loading location after it is loaded.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said loading means comprises a bar assembly movable transversely at one end a holding means at said loading location, said assembly blocking the passage of said articles from a path to all but one of the channels of a holding means at a time and having a gap through it communicating with said one channel permitting said articles to be loaded into it.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein flexible guide means fixed at one end in said assembly communicate with said path to sequentially accept articles from said path for loading through said gap into the channels of a holding means.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the channels of said holding means includes spring means for preventing said articles from entering said holding means, and said assembly includes means for aligning a channel with said gap and for releasing said spring means in an aligned channel to permit said articles to be loaded in that channel.

11. Article handling apparatus for sequentially providing articles to a station for processing and categorization according to the process and for accepting the articles according to their categories comprising a first plurality of multi-channel article holding means, each of said channels having the capacity for retaining a plurality of said articles,

an article unloading station,

means for storing said plurality of holding means loaded with said articles and feeding said loaded holding means one by one to an unloading location,

unloading means at said location responsive to the presence of a loaded holding means fed to said location for effecting while said holding means is fixed the channel by channel unloading ofsaid articles from the holding means and the transporting of said articles to said processing station,

means for moving each holding means out of said unloading location after it is unloaded,

means for accepting said moved unloaded holding means for storage,

a plurality of article loading stations corresponding in number to the number of said categories, each of said stations communicating with said processing station through a discrete path, each of said loading stations having loading apparatus for the articles provided to it comprising a second plurality of multi-channel article holding means, each of said channels having the capacity for retaining a plurality of said articles, I

means for storing a plurality of said holding means empty of said articles and feeding said holding means one by one to a loading location at the end of a path, said holding means being positioned in back to front contiguous relationship when being stored,

loading means at said location responsive to the presence of an empty holding means fed to said location for effecting while said holding means is fixed at said location the channel by channel loading of a predetermined number of said articles into the holding means,

means for moving each holding means out of said location after it is loaded, and

means for accepting said moved loaded holding means for storage in back to front contiguous relationship with the others of said loaded holding means at that station.

12. Method of handling articles before being acted on in a process including feeding of said articles to an acting station,

storing said articles in plural channel trays,

stacking said trays in contiguous back to front relationship,

feeding said stacked trays one by one to an unload station,

and

sequentially dispersing the articles from each of the channels of a tray at the unload station to a common path leading to said acting station while said tray is in a fixed position.

13. In the method of claim 12, and further comprising the step of aligning each tray for article dispersion at the unload station prior to the dispersion.

14. In the method of claim 12, wherein the dispersing of the articles includes the simultaneous releasing of the articles in all of the channels of a tray for sequential channel feed to said common path.

15. In the method of claim 12, wherein the feeding of said articles through said common path to said acting station is by gravity feed. a

16. Method of handling articles after being acted on in a process including feeding of said articles from an acting station after said articles have been categorized into predetermined categories,

9 l stacking a plurality of plural channel trays in contiguous tion, said loading occurring at each load station into all back to front relationship at a load station for each of said the channels of a tray while said tray is in a fixed position, categories, whereby said articles are stored in trays according to said feeding said stacked trays one by one to each load station p edet mined Categ i sf loadi f id ti l 17. In the method of claim 16, wherein said transporting is transporting said articles from said acting station to said Performed 31011821ir bearing Slidesload stations along paths corresponding to said categothe a whemm method further ries, and comprises the aligning of each channel of a tray at a load staloading the articles transported to each of the load stations Pnor to the loadmg of amcles mm that channel sequentially into the channels of a tray at that load stal0 

1. Article handling apparatus for sequentially providing articles to a processing station, comprising a plurality of multi-channel article holding means, each of said channels having the capacity for retaining a plurality of said articles, means for storing a plurality of said holding means loaded with said articles and feeding said loaded holding means one by one to an unloading station, said holding means being positioned in back to front contiguous relationship when being stored, unloading means at said location responsive to the presence of a loaded holding means at said location for effecting while said holding means is fixed at said location the channel by channel unloading of said articles and the transporting of said articles to said processing station, means for moving each holding means out of said location after it is unloaded, and means for accepting said moved unloaded holding means for storage.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is bilevel having a lower level for storing said loaded holding means and an upper level for storing said unloaded holding means, and said unloading location being on said lower level, so that said moving means level shifts each holding means out of said unloading location after it is unloaded.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said unloading means comprises a bar assembly movable transversely at one end a holding means at said unloading location, said assembly blocking the passage of said articles from all but one of the channels of a holding means at a time and having a gap through it communicating with said one channel permitting said articles when released from said holding means to be transported to said processing station.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein flexible guide means fixed at one end in said assembly and communicating with said processing station at the other end transport said articles to said processing station.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the channels of said holding means incLudes spring means for retaining said articles within said holding means, and said unloading means includes means for engaging said spring means when said holding means is in said location to release said articles for unloading.
 6. Article handling apparatus for sequentially loading articles categorized at a processing station according to the process and provided along discrete paths corresponding to the categories to article loading apparatus at the end of each such path, each of said loading apparatus comprising a plurality of multi-channel article holding means, each of said channels having the capacity for retaining a plurality of said articles, means for storing a plurality of said holding means empty of said articles and feeding said holding means one by one to a loading location at the end of a path, said holding means being positioned in back to front contiguous relationship when being stored, loading means at said location responsive to the presence of an empty holding means fed to said location for effecting while said holding means is fixed at said location the channel by channel loading of a predetermined number of said articles into the holding means, means for moving each holding means out of said location after it is loaded, and means for accepting said moved loaded holding means for storage.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the loading apparatus at the end of each path is bilevel having a lower level for storing said unloaded holding means and an upper level for storing said loaded holding means, and said loading location being on said lower level, so that said moving means level shifts each holding means out of said loading location after it is loaded.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said loading means comprises a bar assembly movable transversely at one end a holding means at said loading location, said assembly blocking the passage of said articles from a path to all but one of the channels of a holding means at a time and having a gap through it communicating with said one channel permitting said articles to be loaded into it.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein flexible guide means fixed at one end in said assembly communicate with said path to sequentially accept articles from said path for loading through said gap into the channels of a holding means.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the channels of said holding means includes spring means for preventing said articles from entering said holding means, and said assembly includes means for aligning a channel with said gap and for releasing said spring means in an aligned channel to permit said articles to be loaded in that channel.
 11. Article handling apparatus for sequentially providing articles to a station for processing and categorization according to the process and for accepting the articles according to their categories comprising a first plurality of multi-channel article holding means, each of said channels having the capacity for retaining a plurality of said articles, an article unloading station, means for storing said plurality of holding means loaded with said articles and feeding said loaded holding means one by one to an unloading location, unloading means at said location responsive to the presence of a loaded holding means fed to said location for effecting while said holding means is fixed the channel by channel unloading of said articles from the holding means and the transporting of said articles to said processing station, means for moving each holding means out of said unloading location after it is unloaded, means for accepting said moved unloaded holding means for storage, a plurality of article loading stations corresponding in number to the number of said categories, each of said stations communicating with said processing station through a discrete path, each of said loading stations having loading apparatus for the articles provided to it comprising a second plurality oF multi-channel article holding means, each of said channels having the capacity for retaining a plurality of said articles, means for storing a plurality of said holding means empty of said articles and feeding said holding means one by one to a loading location at the end of a path, said holding means being positioned in back to front contiguous relationship when being stored, loading means at said location responsive to the presence of an empty holding means fed to said location for effecting while said holding means is fixed at said location the channel by channel loading of a predetermined number of said articles into the holding means, means for moving each holding means out of said location after it is loaded, and means for accepting said moved loaded holding means for storage in back to front contiguous relationship with the others of said loaded holding means at that station.
 12. Method of handling articles before being acted on in a process including feeding of said articles to an acting station, storing said articles in plural channel trays, stacking said trays in contiguous back to front relationship, feeding said stacked trays one by one to an unload station, and sequentially dispersing the articles from each of the channels of a tray at the unload station to a common path leading to said acting station while said tray is in a fixed position.
 13. In the method of claim 12, and further comprising the step of aligning each tray for article dispersion at the unload station prior to the dispersion.
 14. In the method of claim 12, wherein the dispersing of the articles includes the simultaneous releasing of the articles in all of the channels of a tray for sequential channel feed to said common path.
 15. In the method of claim 12, wherein the feeding of said articles through said common path to said acting station is by gravity feed.
 16. Method of handling articles after being acted on in a process including feeding of said articles from an acting station after said articles have been categorized into predetermined categories, stacking a plurality of plural channel trays in contiguous back to front relationship at a load station for each of said categories, feeding said stacked trays one by one to each load station for loading of said articles, transporting said articles from said acting station to said load stations along paths corresponding to said categories, and loading the articles transported to each of the load stations sequentially into the channels of a tray at that load station, said loading occurring at each load station into all the channels of a tray while said tray is in a fixed position, whereby said articles are stored in trays according to said predetermined categories.
 17. In the method of claim 16, wherein said transporting is performed along air bearing slides.
 18. In the method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises the aligning of each channel of a tray at a load station prior to the loading of articles into that channel. 